You Might Be Putting Your Faith In The Wrong People...

Mr Miller wants people to report any unsavoury activity to the trust so he can build up a database of incidents and pass the information to the police.

"We may find it happens at certain times of the day," he said. "I'm hearing all these things anecdotally as I'm working but the police can't do much about it unless they catch someone in the act."

Why expect them to do anything at all? They don't seem to see it as part of their job...

What they do see as part of their job is something the public would never imagine:

At 10.30pm that night, while her boyfriend Ricky Strachan was still scouring the streets, two police officers knocked on the door.

Had they found the car? No, they had come to give her ‘words of advice’ about the way she was ‘handling things on Facebook’.

Lesley said: ‘They were all over my laptop taking screen grabs. The female officer wrote something in her notebook and made me sign it.

‘I asked them to clarify that I was still the victim here and not the criminal. She just said: “We’ve got to make sure we’ve got everything covered.”’

It's hard not to disagree that this is 'typical of the way in which the modern police ‘service’ find investigating exciting new ‘crimes’ much more to their taste than actually going out on the streets catching old- fashioned criminals', isn't it..?

Ah, These Tribes Have Nothing To Teach Us...

A 'Guardian' article heaps praise on the distinguished anthropologist Jared Diamond:

Some tribal customs, such as widow-strangling, will not be missed, of course. "We should not romanticise traditional societies," he says. "There are horrible things that we want to avoid, but there (sic) wonderful things that we should emulate."

Things like being permissive with our children (aren't we already?) or respecting our elders. Well, when we aren't bumping them off, that is...

Nomad tribes, particularly those in the Arctic or deserts, faced with insufficient food will often kill old people or abandon them – or encourage them to commit suicide, a grim policy taken to extremes not just by the Kaulong but by people of the Banks Islands in the Pacific, whose old and sick would beg their friends to bury them alive to end their suffering, and the Chukchi, who live in the northeastern corner of Asia, who used to encourage their old folk to let themselves be strangled on the promise they would get preferential treatment in the next world. Yes, it sounds grim, admits Diamond, but it has a cruel logic: food supplies are limited and what else should they do when resources dry up? Let their children starve?

Actually, Jared, I think you'll find that's one of the 'horrible things we want to avoid' and we should probably not emulate it...

The Tyranny Of The Breeders…

Kirsty Desire-Delannoy and her husband Mark had only moved into a house opposite Greene for a month before she started being abusive to their five-year-old son.

Mrs Bryan said: "On May 29, their son was playing out with another child and Greene took exception to where they were playing and asked them to move on.

"The boy's mum explained she wanted them to play directly outside the front of her house to keep an eye on him as he is only five."

What’s wrong with your garden, then? Or taking him to a local park?

Is Jipdane, Orchard Park, some sort of urban hellhole without gardens or parks? Let's see:

Hmm, looks like plenty of little gardens there to keep your children safe in...

She was bound over to keep the peace for 12 months but just three days after appearing in court she again had a confrontation with the children.

The children were again playing outside their home when she allegedly swore and shouted at them and asked their parents what they had "bred".

*gasp!!*

Doesn't she realise that one must never, ever, ever imply (by word, deed, thought or omission of same) that children are anything other than an unalloyed delight? The saviours of our future? No matter how they are behaving? It’s the re-education camps for you, Mrs Greene!

And we know just the people that’ll deliver you there!

Officers were called and Greene was handcuffed and put into the back of a police van before being driven to a police station, where she spent a night in a cell. A nurse had to return to the pensioner's home to collect her numerous medications, the court was told.

Oh, for….! Try getting the police to come out for some spitting, swearing yob that’s lounging outside your front gate! You’ll be told ‘ We've no resources…’.

The Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, Judge Michael Mettyear, said a "sensible" conclusion to the case was a restraining order. He said: "She is just a lonely old lady who is confused and making a bit of a nuisance."

I don’t see where the ‘confusion’ comes in, frankly, unless it’s her failure to accept the modern doctrine of ‘Children should be seen and heard at the top of their lungs and don’t you dare say anything about it!’…

As for causing a nuisance, well, it takes two to tango, doesn't it?

"None of the neighbours want blood in this case. They want nothing more than a bit of peace.

"They say this lady misbehaves and is loud and boisterous and a nuisance. It empowers me to make a restraining order. "

Maybe Mrs Greene ‘wants a bit of peace’ too? Maybe the children are the ones that are ‘loud and boisterous and a nuisance’?

Speaking to the Mail after yesterday's case, Greene, who survived the Hull Blitz during the Second World War, said: "I never bothered anyone. It has all been a waste of taxpayers' money.

"The police just threw me in the van and the cuffs hurt my wrists.

"I can't believe I was treated like this at my age. I have never been so miserable.

"I just want a nice cup of tea and a roast pork sandwich now."

Oh, now you've done it, Mrs Greene! Couldn't you have plumped for a cheese sandwich? Your neighbours might be Muslims…

I Guess Wales Are Behind The Times..?

In Gloucester, praise for a man defending his home:

Heroic father Amgad Ahmed has spoken of the moment he tackled a burglar to the ground and sat on him while his family slept upstairs.

He has been praised by a judge and given a cash reward for his bravery in "frightening circumstances" after he overpowered intruder Brian Wing when he crept into his Overbury Road home through an unlocked patio door.

In Wales, arrest for a man defending his mum’s home:

Vaughan Jones, 39, from Bargoed, in Gwent, South Wales jumped into action when his widowed mother heard a thief burgling her family home.

He called police before dashing around to help his mother Eleanor, 65, and confronted the burglar in a hand-to-hand struggle.

But the dad-of-three was left shocked when officers arrived and arrested him for allegedly assaulting the thief.

So…what’s the difference? Well, it seems the Welsh CPS at least have got the memo, if not the Heddlu:

And he was only released when the Crown Prosecution Service advised police not to press charges.

They needed such advice?

A spokesman said: 'When officers attend a live, ongoing situation they often have to take quick and decisive action based on what they are faced with to defuse the situation, ensure the safety of all involved and to maximise opportunities to gather evidence.

'Further enquiries follow, enabling officers to establish a fuller picture of what has taken place.'

Translation: ‘Look, we’re just simple souls, we are barely capable of nicking everyone in sight until someone brighter than us turns up and tells us who is the guilty party.’

Really, Welsh cops? Is that how you want to be seen by the public?

Don't Let It 'Pain You', Coroner...

Picture the scene - a tragedy in King's Lynn:

More safety measures have been proposed at a Norfolk town's annual fair after a three-year-old boy was killed by a car.

Awful, terrible, more must be done!!

West Norfolk Council has backed proposals to increase the number of stewards and barriers at the event.

Plans would also see the fair, held in Tuesday Market Place, shortened from 14 days to nine.

Councillors recommended that the fair was moved from its traditional Valentine's Day opening to begin on the first weekend of February half-term in 2013.

No expense must be spared! Set up the JustGiving page to pay for a lavish funeral!

On Wednesday 15th February 2012 at 5:30pm a three year old boy called Rio Bell, had his life so tragically cut short by a driver, as the Kind’s Lynn Mart in Norfolk.

But look at how forgiving the parents are to the evil motorist:

More than 150 people attended Rio’s funeral service which was held by the rector of Kirkley the Rev Andrew White and saw his white coffin enter to the R Kelly song If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of time.

In a moving eulogy he said: “In the time I have spent with members of the family over the last few days, I have been struck by the total absence of anger and bitterness or any need for revenge.”

Oh, saints they are, surely?

Cometh the inquest, and - although I'd forgotten the case - I found I was following a reporter covering it for 'Look East' on Twitter:

Hmmmm....

O...kay....

'Independent'? He was three! Not of an age where you are expected to be traffic-smart, which it why it's the job of the parents to do it!

The press couldn't not report it, could they?

“I don’t wish to add to the distress and anguish of Rio’s family, but the primary responsibility for young children must rest with those having care of them,” he said.

“At the time of this tragedy, Rio was not under suitable control or supervision. He should have been under very close and direct control.

“Under the circumstances, he should have had reigns (sic), been in a buggy or had his hand held.

“It pains me to say that.”

It shouldn't.

Perhaps someone would like to set up a JustGiving page for the poor bloody driver?

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

A high court hearing in London is determining issues of fact before a judicial review in February. Tracey wants to clarify whether there is a legal duty to inform patients with capacity whether a DNR has been placed in their notes and whether they have any right to be consulted.

Yes, just savour that – we need a court case to decide if there’s a legal duty to inform patients whether the NHS will seek to keep them alive, or allow them to die for convenience’s sake…

"At one point, she did say they were trying to get rid of her, and I didn't believe her. I just said, 'don't be so silly', which proved to be a mistake."

What with this, and the recent allegations about the Liverpool Care Pathway, who feels safe with their elderly parents or spouse in any NHS hospital?

Shouldn't this be of more concern than who will appear of ‘Celebrity Clowns In The Jungle’ or the continuing accusations against Savile?

Tracey said: "I had rather they hadn't kept badgering her all the time. They told her she had a 1% chance of leaving the hospital. What kind of thing is that to say to someone in hospital?"

So…they can’t find the time to ensure elderly patients are properly fed but they can always find time to stick a DNR form under your nose and brandish a pen?

”Some day, a hard rain’s gonna come…”

…but until then, I guess 'anti-vice patrollers' might help!

A member of a group set up to rid city streets of kerb crawlers has been caught slapping a prostitute.

Well, that’s one way to do it, I suppose...

CCTV captured Jordan Tudge assaulting the woman in a takeaway in Normanton.

The footage showed the 24-year-old go into the premises in Normanton Road, approach her and strike her face once before walking out.

Yes, indeed. He sought her out. She wasn’t even soliciting at the time, she was simply shopping.

Maggie Orton, for Tudge, said her client was part of the anti-prostitute patrol set up in the summer, adding: "They wanted to try and keep the streets of Normanton clear of crime and Mr Tudge was even pictured on the front page of the Derby Telegraph as part of that group.

"They wanted to keep the streets clear of prostitutes and drugs and were met by behaviour such as people urinating in the street.

"He feels he has compromised his position as one of the leaders of that group by his actions and he expresses his desire to apologise."

Nicely worded. I’m expressing my desire to have him horsewhipped right now, but you’ll notice he remains unharmed. Sadly.

What's that? You want to see what this He Man looks like? Well, here we are (he's cleverly avoiding Farenheit211's 'Beardred Savage Of The Day' award by ...well...):

 Impressive specimen of manhood, huh, ladies?

James McNamara, prosecuting, said the woman had entered the takeaway with two other prostitutes to buy ice cream and milk shakes when Tudge walked in.

Mr McNamara said: "He approaches her and says words to the effect of 'why do you come here? You don't have permission to be here'.

"She turns to ask him a question and he replied along the lines of 'don't ask me nothing' before slapping her face and walking back out on to the street."

I didn't realise you needed ‘permission’ from some gormless-looking street thug to buy icecream. No matter what your profession…

Say… could there be an elephant in this room, perchance?

Magistrate Philip Houckham adjourned sentencing Tudge until November 13.

Why bother? What are you waiting for?

Outside the court, Tudge apologised for his actions.

He said: "It was only a little tap to the face, the kind you would give to a naughty kid, but that doesn't excuse what I did and I am sorry.

"I should have remained calm and composed but I lost my self-control. "There was an air of tension at the time as earlier I had been threatened by a group of men who I approached who I believed had come to the area looking for prostitutes.

"The prostitutes in the street were also being brazen in their behaviour looking for business but, again, that does not excuse what I did."

Yup, I can see the tusks, the grey trunk, the wrinkled skin, all we are missing is the big ears.

Ah! Here they are!

Uthman Ali, leader of the anti-prostitute patrols, said: "At the time of the incident Jordan was not on patrol.

"We have now stopped doing the patrols, which we think worked very well."

You didn't get to stone anyone, though. Never mind. I'm sure you think your time’s coming…

Oh, and as for young Master Tudge, it seems he wasn't even keeping his own area clean of the streetwalker menace - he travelled all the way from Sinfin where he lives, a good hour to walk, to ‘keep the streets safe’ in Normanton.

Don’t they have prostitutes in Sinfin? Or are they just all bigger than him there?

But then, Googling the name, it seems Tudge is quite the travellin' man. Here he is in Derby helping to rid the streets of the 'menace' of gay rights protesters. He must take a lot of annual leave from his no doubt well-paying job to be able to attend all these protests, eh?

You'd think he'd have enough family matters to keep him at home, wouldn't you?

So...I'm Helping Pick Up The Tab For This Instead?

Oh, and you too, if you are a motorist:

James Williams, 26, of Stoke Gifford – who was described as a "very unhappy young man" – caused massive damage to the outside of the House of Fraser store in a crash in December 2008 which almost cost his own life, as well as that of another driver whose car was in his path.

Lord Justice Ward told London's Civil Appeal Court yesterday that Mr Williams drove his Ford Puma at speeds of up to 100 mph along the M32 and Newfoundland Street before deliberately swerving into a low wall.

The car span into the air, bounced off the roof of another car waiting at a junction and smashed into the shop window.

The other driver was lucky to survive:

The driver of the other car, Jamie Haynes, also suffered serious injuries, including a fractured shoulder, four fractured spinal vertebrae, a broken rib and punctured lung.

His Audi A6, which was waiting at a red light, was pushed on to its side, writing the 11-year-old car off, the court heard.

Williams was prosecuted:

Mr Williams, of Fabian Drive, was later jailed for 21 months for dangerous driving and causing criminal damage.

He was also banned from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended driving test before ever getting back behind the wheel.

And after that, the 'fun' begins:

The crash sparked a legal battle between the shop's insurers, Bristol Alliance Limited Partnership, who initially covered the cost of replacing the vast windows, and EUI Ltd, with whom Mr Williams had a motor policy.

EUI fought the case tooth and nail – insisting they were not liable for the damage as it had been caused by Mr Williams' "deliberate act" – and yesterday finally triumphed in what is likely to be seen as an important test case for the insurance industry.

Allowing EUI's appeal against an earlier ruling against the company, Lord Justice Ward, sitting with Lord Justice McFarlane and Dame Janet Smith, said that what Mr Williams did fell outside the terms of his policy and his vehicle was therefore uninsured at the time.

So...as he's now an uninsured driver, guess who'll be picking up the tab? Yup. That's right. Me and you, via the MIB and higher premiums!

In his ruling, the judge described Mr Williams as "a very unhappy young man".

Yeah, I'm pretty unhappy too, now.

Decline In Public Trust In The Police? Why, No, Me Neither…

Bill Gatenby needed 20 stitches in his arm and back when the animal leaped at him while outside the Bird Inn pub, in Washington, as he innocently watched a fight roll on to the street.

At the time, he was arrested for being drunk and disorderly, although he was later cleared during a trial after it emerged he was simply an innocent bystander.

Now, while it’s unwise to watch a fight that requires the attention of police to break it up, the penalty shouldn’t be arrest and a savaging, should it?

An officer originally claimed the 59-year-old had “gone at him”, which led the dog to bite and bring Mr Gatenby to the ground.

But it was only thanks to CCTV footage of the attack, which the police lost, that the real facts were shown.

Which the police ‘lost’, eh? How fortuitous…

The grandad-of-six, who lives with his wife Jane in Washington, said he can’t thank the landlord enough for coming forward with it. He said: “After I was arrested and the case had gone to the first appearance at court, it was originally said that there was no CCTV in the area at the time.

“I was just thinking, it’s going to be a case of my word against the police. I really wasn’t hopeful anyone would believe me. ”

Sadly, that’s no longer as true as it once was. We are far, far from the days when a policeman’s word was sufficient.

Now, it’s a case of ‘Trust, but verify’:

“Then the landlord of the pub got in touch with me and said he thought I needed to see the CCTV he had.

“He saw on the CCTV that I had done nothing wrong. “He gave me a copy of it and I gave it to my solicitor.

“The landlord said he had given a copy to the police but they said they’d lost it. “It was clear to most that there wasn’t a case against me once the CCTV had been seen. The magistrates agreed.

“I’m just so thankful to the landlord for contacting me and telling me about it. I don’t know what would have happened otherwise.”

Oh, I think I do. You’d have been convicted.

So, what does Northumbria Police Farce have to say for itself, and it’s officers?

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “A number of his concerns were found to be unsubstantiated.”

So what? Not the crucial one, which is that your officers lied to the custody officer about the incident!

“However, we accept CCTV footage was misplaced and appropriate action was taken at the time.

“It was established Mr Gatenby had been accidentally bitten by a police dog.”

That’s an unfortunate happenstance. It’s not unusual, and though it’s a bad thing to happen, it’s what you do about it when it happens that is crucial.

Lying about it and hiding the evidence is criminal behaviour, is it not?

So…what ‘appropriate action’ was taken over these police officers? Were they dismissed? They certainly should have been!

After his trial, in November 2008, Mr Gatenby launched legal action against the police for his injuries and the stress he endured, yet it was not until nearly four years later that a court date was set at Newcastle’s County Court.

But a couple of weeks before the date, in July this year, an out-of-court settlement was reached and the Asda worker was awarded a five-figure payout and a personal, written apology from Chief Supt David Pryer.

If they hoped the out-of-court settlement would prevent any publicity, they clearly had their hopes dashed…

But it was the behaviour of the arresting officers that also disgusted Mr Gatenby. CCTV captured the immediate aftermath of Bill Gatenby’s arrest in Washington Police Station custody suite.

The officers can be heard laughing and joking and branding the attack “decent”. One of them even says “He’ll (the dog) not need feeding today”.

The dog handler in charge of the animal at the time of the attack, can be heard claiming Mr Gatenby had “just turned on us and, like, took a step forward and the dog has just gone for him” .

This was clearly not the case from CCTV footage taken from outside the pub, which shows Mr Gatenby never turned around and didn't seem to realise the officer was there.

So…what happened to those officers? Are they still walking a beat somewhere? Are they lying about any future arrests they may make?

Since they aren't named, who can have any confidence that they aren't being dealt with by them?